Snap switch



Oct. 14, 1930. L. A. KEMPTON 1,778,676

SNAP SWITCH Filed Oct. 2, 1928 Inventor; Leslie A. Kem-ptcm,

by His Atbovneg Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PA E T OFFICE LESLIE A. KEMPTON, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SNAP SWITCH Application filed October 2, 1928. Serial No. 309,720.

The present invention relates to electrical switches, and more especially to flush snap switches such as are installed in recessesin the walls and partitions of houses for controlling electric circuits for lighting, etc.

On account of the possibility of switches installed in wall recesses becoming clogged by bits of plaster or other gritty matter obtaining access to the mechanism and currentcarrying parts, it has been a common practice heretofore to provide a card-board cover adapted to be secured over the open side of the insulating base, but such card-board covers are easily injured and are often misplaced or entirely omitted by the wiremen.

The object of my invention is the provision of an improved electrical switch in which the entire switch mechanism may be assembled as a unit and the insulating base assem- 2 bled thereabout so as to entirely and securely shut in the switch mechanism and with only the binding posts, operating handle and ends of the bridge piece or means whereby the complete switch is mounted in the wall recess exposed, and a further object is to so construct the parts of the insulating base that it may be readily assembled about and attached to the switch frame.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete switch; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3 is a disassembled perspective view, and Fig. 4 is a part section and part side elevation of the switch mechanism.

The switch mechanism comprises a rigid frame consisting of a longitudinal bridge piece 1 provided at its ends with suitable perforations for the passage ofscrews whereby it may be attached to the surface of a. wall, and two integral side members 2 and 3 bent down therefrom on opposite edges of the central portion of the bridge. Movable pole pieces 4 and 5 are mounted outside the side members 2 and 3 of the frame on a punched rocker shaft 6 pivoted in bearings formed near the lower. ends of said side members.-

upon the lower portion of the shaft and connected at the other to an operating lever 8 pivoted on a shaft 9 supported by the side members 2 and 3 of the frame. The outer end 10 of the lever 8 is of insulating material and of a shape and size substantially to fill in all positions thereof the passageway 11 in the central portion of the bridge piece 1. The switch mechanism and the supporting frame constitute a self-contained unit which is secured to the base by two screws 12.

The base is designed completely to house or shut in all the switch mechanism beneath the bridge piece 1. It consists of counterpart box members 13 and 14 and a bottom slab 15. Each member is cored out to leave a front wall 16, a side wall 17 and two end walls 18 and 19. The end wall 18 is made relatively wide so as to underlie the width of the bridge piece 1, while the other end wall 19 extends only to the edge of the bridge piece. The wide end walls 18 of both box members are apertured at 20 for the passage of the bridge securance screws 12.' In order to retain the opposite ends 19 of the box members in position alongside the Wide end 18 of the opposite member, recessed or dovetail shoulders 21 and 22 are arranged on the meeting surfaces so as to interlock with each other.

In the inner surface of each of the end walls 18 and 19 is a vertical guide groove 23 and the front outside corners of said end walls are notched or cut away to intersect the grooves 23 and to provide seats 2-1 upon which are mounted binding posts 25 to which the. stationary switch contacts 26 are attached and from which they extend into the interior of the base and there held in position by the guide grooves 23 to cooperate with the switch blades 4 and 5. In order to attach the binding posts 25 to their seats, internally threaded eyelets 27 are embedded in the moulded material of the base sections 13 and 14. Rivet eyelets 28 also are embedded in the moulded material of the base sections at the bottom thereof for the purpose of securing the bottom slab 15 in place.

In order to cushion the vibrations of the switch, soft rubber stops or buffers 29 are secured to the inner surface of the bottom slab 15 in position to be engaged by the oscillating shaft 6 at each end of its throw, and between the bridge piece 1 and it's seats upon the base sections sheets of rubber are inter'- posed and project inwardly sufliciently to remember, andmeans for fixedly attaching o posite ends of the bridge piece to one end we of each of the respectlve base members.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 2 relative to each other prior to securing the bottom slab 15 in place and also that the overall depth of the complete switch is reduced to a minimum so that it is adapted for instal-' lation in the thinnest of present-day" house partitions. t

' While I have shown and described the best embodiment of the invention known to me, I do not desire to be restricted thereto. 4

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An electric switch comprising an integral bridge piece and switch frame with operating mechanism mounted thereon and an insulating base totally enclosing said operating mechanism, said base comprising two sectional box members, each having a front, a side and two end walls. one of sand end walls being of greater width than the other and adapted to be secured to said bridge piece,

said box members having interlocking shoulders on adjacent edges of the end walls thereof, and an insulating slab secured'to the bottom of said box members.

'2. A sectional box member of insulating material for electric switches, comprising a front, a side and two end walls, said end walls having vertical grooves formed in the inner surfaces thereof and the front outside corners thereof cut away to intersect said grooves and provide seats for binding posts;

3. An electric switch comprising a combined bridge. piece and switch frame, switch mechanism mounted on said frame and projecting beyond the sides thereof, an insulating base comprising two sectional box members and a bottom slab attached to said members, each of said box members comprising a front wall adapted to overlie the parts of the switch mechanism projecting beyond the sides of the frame, a side wall and two end walls, and means for fixedly attaching the opposite ends of the bridge piece to one end wall of each of the respective base members.

4. An electric switch comprising a combined bridge piece and switch frame, switch mechanism mounted on said frame and pro- 1 jecting beyond the sides thereof, and an in- 8th da LES of September, 1928.

IE A. KEMPTON. 

